Freedom Guns and Jesus

I have a deep desire to “let my ceiling be their floor“, as it pertains to the most important life lessons, many of which I didn’t grasp until half-time (I’m over 50).
Resilience is one of the most important concepts I can think of.

Google “stressed youth”, and look at the images. Feel the confusion, the hopelessness, and the anxiety of a generation that should be enjoying the exploration of their own path, and figuring out what works in life. Instead, they have been told to not accept who they are, that they are victims, that they have emotional trauma, and need to escape the path they are on — rather than enjoying the journey of living, learning, and making needed adjustments for a healthy life journey.

Life is hard, y’all! Get used to the fact that we rarely get what we signed up for. We rarely get what we plan for, hope for and count on. That’s why it’s called “LIFE” instead of “FUN”.

The Book of Revelation (think of it as revealing a truth) has at least 8 promises for overcomers (“he that overcometh”). The enemy is trying to win the battle for our souls. If he can make us believe that what we have is unbearable, how much easier will it be to break us when times get tougher?

Resilience is an ATTITUDE. It says,

“Too hard for you–just right for me!”
“I’m going to get this done, no matter what it takes!”
“I will MAKE IT or die trying!”
“I will remain FAITHFUL until the end, whatever that will be.”

-CN Original

To have resilience, you need to lower your expectations and increase your gratitude. You need to employ forgiveness toward others, rather than harboring hurt and offense. Expect little, and appreciate much.

And here’s the trick: None of this is actually hard. And it’s all just a bunch of fluffy positive thinking if you don’t source your belief and your power in the Word of God, who says:

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made!”
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
and,
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

-The Bible (NIV)

My prayer for this generation (people alive today) is for DISCERNMENT. That they can recognize and accurately separate truth from lies, and good from evil. Acceptance of the positive truth will lead to good things, like

“…love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

I recently had a MAJOR distraction in my life, or at least–that’s what it looked like from the mind-of-flesh. I am walking out and working out how to live a Spirit-led life. It’s exciting–but challenging, as the mind of flesh is at enmity with the Spirit (Romans 8:6-8).

I touched on it in my previous post titled, “Fight”. I actually agreed to and began to run for the Office of Sheriff in my county. I had been standing up in my community against mandatory masks for children (and anyone for that matter), because I still believe that God’s greatest gift to all of us is CHOICE. While attending a weekly patriot group, I was asked and encouraged to run for Sheriff, not once, but 3 times, because there was no conservative on the ballot to challenge the moderate incumbent, and the liberal challenger, both on the D ticket.

THREE times! The first time, my response was, “Hell no! I never wanted to be in politics”. My second response was to consider all the positive change I could affect for the community, as well as the increased influence I could have for the Kingdom callings I have in my life. And my third response was to consider if running actually could be a calling, as it lined up with my talents and abilities.

I believed that God would and could change me into the person that could effectively fill that office, and I felt the same way I felt when I became a Marine, that I was willing to serve my country for a limited period of time, laying aside my aspirations and plans for the greater good.

I gathered a team, started my committee and announced my intention to run for Sheriff. Lots of difficulties ensued, and at the same time, another well-qualified patriot stood up to answer the same call, which would have made him my opponent in the primary. Long story short, I stepped down to put the full support of my supporters behind him, and allow him to run unhindered for the office that he truly wanted.

Now to the mind of flesh, this looks like a distraction, a defeat, or at best, a waste of time and effort. However, my experience led me to some truly profound realizations.

While making the decision to step down, I inquired of the Lord, and he assured me that He would be with me in whatever endeavor I chose. I was reminded of the Banquet Table vision I had years ago and relieved that He was allowing me (and guiding me) to the path that followed my passions and plans, and did not require massive sacrifice for my family, and saved me from all the dirtiness of politics.

The moral of the story is, what you are willing to do for the sake of others is not necessarily required in the pursuit of the calling that God originally gave to you. I feel that the ‘calling’ of well-meaning patriots could have derailed my calling–to outside church, to my family, even to the lifestyle I have been building with friends in ministry endeavors.

There is something noble about being WILLING to do the difficult thing in service of others, but in this case, God did not require that from me, provided a way out, and got me back on track with my passion. And yet, had I been warned not to take that diversion, I would have missed the blessings of the experience… of a Spirit-led-LIFE!

“His mercies are new every morning!”

Most days, I have what very well may be “inspired” ideas.
Usually, they come in the shower, or before, and often I forget them before taking action.

So this morning, after reading a great devotional that was a gift from my mom, who understands me on a very deep level after we met for the first time 53 years ago–I was inspired to reach out to the author and also a famous musician, just to see if my steps are inspired by the Lord–as I pray they are every day of my life. (You’d think I had that figured out by now!)

The problem is… “the mind of flesh”.
Listening to the gentle whisper of God amidst the clamor and urgencies of this physical world is an art that is mostly lost in our current society.

I’d like to encourage you to take time to do the more radical, outside-the-box actions that come to you in your pre-involved hours; put relationships before any need or expectation, and trust God to work out the details.

I was watching a video of one of my favorite evangelists, Torbin (I can’t spell his last name). He is a guy who is doing what the Lord has called him to do and suffers quite a bit of persecution and criticism for what he does.

I would encourage you to watch this video. Push through his personal experience testimony about his YouTube adversaries, and get to the meat of his message:

Ecclesiastes 3, of course, reminds us that there is a time for everything, but we have the power of Jesus to forgive those who attack us, to pray for our enemies, and to bless those who curse us.

People will lie about you if you represent Jesus, and kingdom. They will dig up trash, they will misrepresent you (as the media has already done with me), “it’s not because of what we do, it’s because of Jesus” so “rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven”.

This is an especially challenging video for me because, in the physical, I fight for the freedom of those who are having their freedoms taken away, for children muzzled by masks, and adults who are tricked into poisoning their children with unneeded jabs (who “jabs” their children???)… Yet, in the spiritual, I am called to build www.outsidechurch.org, and I need to keep free of inflammatory and divisive situations (or do I?).

“Keep your heart pure, and run the race.”

There are so many nuggets of truth in this video. Please take the time to watch the whole thing. Whether you are called of the Lord to simply forgive someone in your family or preach on a street corner, try to live by a new mandate, with the ultimate authority, trusting God to defend his own reputation and to reward you for suffering damage to yours.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, this video is about fighting to finish the race… without fighting!

To my fellow believers:

Do everything with the motive of Love, in Jesus’ name, to bring the Father glory. We are his children, and have Holy Spirit in us to be the light in the world, cooperate with His plan, and bring Kingdom as much as possible. Live by the Spirit, listening for His guidance in each moment, praying for Him to set your appointments, give you the words, the boldness and the obedience to affect those around us with the Love of Jesus Christ!

Remember, each one of us has Holy Spirit. That one Spirit is capable of manifesting ALL the gifts, all the fruit, and all the love of the Father to those in need. That is the Good News.

It takes on average, 7 exposures before someone gives their lives to Christ. Be willing to encourage, help, heal, prophesy, challenge, or even just sit with someone who needs His love. The “saving knowledge of Jesus Christ” includes an experience of true love, that may involve works, faith, courage and sacrifice.

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!

-less
or
–ed
Your Choice.

I had a hard relational exchange this morning, and I was in the shower talking it over with God.
I asked Him if I handled it OK, and I got an immediate “Yes”, which surprised me.
I asked Him why so.
(during this, my flesh-mind experiences the same doubt, accusation, wondering if it’s His voice or Mine, but “the Watcher” knows the truth).

He told me, “You did as well as I could have expected you to do.”

To me, that sounded like an insult, which is the way I often hear statements, as I am very self-critical, and plagued with self-doubt.

I said, “Why do you say that?” He explained: “Christian, you are all limited by what you have chosen to hang on to, and what you have chosen to let go. I give you every opportunity to choose right–in each moment; and in the times you choose poorly, I give you EVERY opportunity to make choices that will get you back on track.”

You, son, for the most part, you are choosing well. For everything else, there’s MasterCard Jesus. [I may have paraphrased that a bit.]

My Father is not angry. He is not surprised at my sin. He works with what I give Him. More and more, I try to give him everything.

Teachable moment:  I originally posted this on July 11, 2012, 12 years ago, but kept is private, as it was “unfinished business”:

So OK.  I have this sin that I’ve been trying to beat for years, and fell into it again the past few days.  Those of you who know me know it, because I am transparent and welcome correction.

God seems to be disciplining me financially when I screw up spiritually.  Is that biblical?  I must confess, I’d rather lean heavily on the Grace theology because I KNOW that my sins are already forgiven, and have been for over 2000 years.

Deuteronomy 29:9 says:
“Therefore, obey the terms of this covenant so that you will prosper in everything you do.”

3 John 1:2 says:

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

So if prospering comes from good behavior, can it be assumed that bad behavior will cause us to “anti-prosper”?  I’d like not to assume this, but it seems to be playing out in my stock portfolio (down 20% in three days).  Just one more reason to get it right.  I’ll try that and see what happens.

… Judge me now, Lord, while I walk the Earth and can make a difference.  Let me not be judged for this sin continuing when we meet face to face.  -Amen.

Recently, I have been watching teaching by Chris Blackeby concerning the 3 Realms, and attempting to live and pray from the Heavenly realm.  I can’t believe it’s taking me this long to see this gospel.

The thing that is so amazing, is that the scriptures quoted above completely support this view, even the language (as your soul prospers) indicates that as we are seated in Heavenly places, we are completed, blessed, finished, forgiven, etc.

The English translations are all over the place, but as you dig in to BlueLetterBible, you can see that  this Greek word translated for soul, is thus:

ψυχή   Lexicon :: Strong's G5590 - psychē    

the soul

1. the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)

2. the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life

3. the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body)

I have been asking people (who think you can loose your salvation) for years. “Did the blood of Christ accomplish what it was intended to accomplish?”  Do we who continue to sin need Him to die over and over for us?  Do we really have the power to “crucify him all over again” with our lifestyle?

I am moving on.  My mission is to believe and teach that His sacrifice did it’s job, that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved, and that “soulish” thinking as defined in Chris Blackeby’s video is just a higher level of “stinking thinking”.  Knowledge of the “lower courts” is essential for success and understanding in this physical life, but knowledge of the highest court is the trump card to every issue that keeps us separated from the Love of God.

I will close this article with a quote from my favorite book, “The Cost of Love”, by Joshua Wild Star.

“Man’s heart adjusted

to the nature of that promise

and his mind believed

what his eyes could not see.”

(Lord, what do you have for me to learn inside this experience?)

I took time out of my busy computer business schedule to replace a grounding cable in my Honda Element.

I’ve been having issues with the dash lights, the gear-shifter, and some transmission performance, and a friend of mine mentioned to me that he had success when he had his electrical system properly grounded.  I checked under the hood a few days later, and sure enough, the main grounding wire from the battery to the engine was completely disconnected because of corrosion.

Ordered the part online, waited a week for it to come, and installed it today.  Simple part, three connections, one hard to get to.

I scratched my arm on the air hose clamp, and loosened and rotated the clamp to get it out of the way so I wouldn’t draw any more blood.

Had some frustration when I dropped the wrench with the bolt I needed, had to get on my knees a couple of times to find it and rescue it from the bottom of the engine compartment.

Then dropped the bolt again to an impossible place to reach.  I stopped, saw in my mind’s eye an extendable tool with a magnet (in my mind), and went inside and made one with a long springy-grabber-tool and a magnet from the fridge.  This took about 2 minutes, and it worked on the first attempt.

I prayed throughout the entire experience, as I converse with the Lord frequently, but was mostly asking for help.  All said and done, this repair took me about 45 minutes.

I showed my wife the bad part, and she asked me, “So what did that fix?”… a truly amazing question, because to my knowledge, it didn’t fix anything.  The same symptoms still exist, but now I know one thing that is NOT causing the problem.  I can only assume that the designer of the car had a purpose for that part, and in trust of his/her design, I fixed something I found wrong.

I thanked the Lord for his help, [because I COULD still be out there!], and rather than complaining, asked Him what He had in the experience for me.  I am truly grateful.

Let’s unpack this:

1. Listen: be aware when others tell you what helped them.
2. Self-examine: be humble enough to see if you have the same issue.
3. Wait:  Don’t freak out and pay more than you have to, in time, money, frustration–often, these things are NOT an emergency, and just because you find an issue, doesn’t mean that it has to be fixed RIGHT NOW.  I waited a week through rain for the package, and then installed it on a sunny day!
4. Bleed: Be willing to do what it takes, but don’t bleed twice!  Adjust your environment so you don’t keep hurting yourself.
5. Persevere:  You will falter.  Ask for help.  Get on your knees a couple of times, then get back up and “geterdun”.
6. Do it Anyway:  If you see something that’s not right in your life, body, environment–fix it.  Even if there are no symptoms.  You’ll save yourself trouble “down the road.”

If you need some backup, here you go:

• Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
• Colossians 1:11-12  being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
• Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
• Revelation 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
• Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
• James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
• Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
• Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
• John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
• Luke 21:19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

There are certain truths that explain or bring clarity to other truths, concepts that remove nagging questions and the unpleasantness of life situations once understood.   The truth of “Seasons” is one such truth.  It takes a maturity of perspective and faith to appreciate the seasons in life.

Our society seems to be made up of groups of people who want every other group to think the way they do.  The benefits of diversity are seldom realized because rather than allowing others to express a different thought or opinion, acknowledging why it may be true for them, we are too quick to judge a position, a belief, an opinion… if it doesn’t line up with our own, we want to correct, criticize or condemn.

When I speak of seasons, I am usually discussing spiritual growth–the journey we each are on to round out the faith that is so simple to begin.  For many the journey of faith begins in one denomination and ends in another.  For some who never move, comfort replaces growth.

It is right and appropriate to attend a Calvary Chapel and get strong in the word, studying verse by verse, and even a time for word by word.  Try taking The Lords Prayer one word at a time, and think of the reason, meaning, and exclusivity of meaning of each word and how they build upon each other to create a depth of soul-communication that will never be delved by mere repetition of the familiar phrases.

It is right to attend community church and experience the synergy of a thousand worshipers focused on God together and the presence of angels and the sweeping through of the Spirit that only occurs when we join one another en masse.  To hone our social skills, volunteer, and to get involved in helping others.

It is right to attend a Pentecostal church where the gifts of the Spirit are practiced and knowledge of the workings of the Spirit are taught, and then to learn about discernment and having to judge rightly between the counterfeits and those who are truly spirit-led.

It is right to step away and be the church and walk into your calling–just to find it’s hard, and no one is following.  But you are still called to lead… no,… to Love.  Then to walk into the realization that nothing done without Love as the motive has any lasting value.

Then we can walk into a Catholic cathedral and find God, and find people trying in their own season to connect with Him, and appreciate every different journey and validate each season of each person’s growth.  To walk down the street and love on people who choose to ignore God completely, share a kind word, let them express the truth of their season, and listen patiently, speak thoughtfully, teach respectfully and give generously.

Love gives others the freedom to be wrong.  Speaking truth in love is difficult sometimes, and not always appropriate.  Love is patient and kind.  You know the verse.

Humility involves not needing to be right.  Not needing to be heard, not even needing to speak.  All the while trusting Phil 1:6 that He who began a good work–in the people you would have previously judged–is faithful to carry it on to completion, until the day of Jesus Christ.

What is the “day of Jesus Christ” for each one of us?  In my opinion, it is the season we enter into where we act, speak and think more and more like Jesus, so much so that the world ceases to see us, and sees Him shining through our actions, words, and deeds.

So what’s the great revelation about seasons?  It makes everything alright, recognizing that God has this.  Allows us to take our time, reflect, improve… free of judgement, in a positive expectation that the wind is going to change.

Disclaimer:  This is just my opinion, not hard-studied theology.

This morning, I thanked the Lord for the revelation of Himself that he gave me in the Word yesterday, when I felt a huge cultural attack on the person-ness of God.  The media (especially science-fiction) is replacing God with Aliens, ancient Assyrian gods, and blatantly switching identities between Satan and God.  He was kind enough to bring me to several scriptures than declare Him as Spirit, Creator, Giver of Life, etc….  (off-topic, but I didn’t want to forget about it.)

So I asked Him for more this morning, and I read from Mark 11:25 through 14:9, and some of the same accounts in Matthew, Luke and John.

I’ve heard it preached that the woman who anointed Jesus with oil was a prostitute and that that oil would have been from her illicit work from her previous occupation, before Jesus told her to “go and sin no more”.  That may be possible, I guess, but I don’t think so.

The story begins in the house of Simon the leper… I didn’t realize that lepers had houses.  It seems that Simon was a man of means and that he had been healed.  It was common (or at least documented) for Jesus to hang out with wealthy people, tax collectors and the like, so I figure that Simon has not only been healed, but restored to his family and position–an especially weighty blessing.  A “woman” enters the room.

I went to Blue Letter Bible and found that the word used for woman has no special designation for age, marital status, etc. except that there are add-ons to the word used here for women who have different status (look it up).

The woman who enters the room was unnamed.  If she were a servant, wouldn’t it have said so, like in Jesus’ first miracle?  Had it been one of the Marys, why not name them as the scriptures had many times before?

I feel like the Spirit led me to the understanding that this was a young woman, perhaps one too young for marriage, and that the bottle of oil may have been set-aside for either a dowry or for her marriage, or maybe to prepare herself for her groom.  The scriptures say “And they criticized her sharply.”  Would Mary, who was a follower of Jesus and had been forgiven by Him have received “sharp criticism”?  I think not.  Would a young lady–too culturally irrelevant to be named and a child in the eyes of the present company, have been criticized sharply?  Bingo.  Apparently, the Disciples hadn’t learned their lesson from Matthew 19:13

What a beautiful picture of purity of heart, wisdom of youth, and display of ultimate understanding of the weight of the moment for a young lady to give her all, for the ultimate Groom of the Bride.

This, I believe, is a prophetic foreshadowing of the 144k young, unspoiled Jewish young men who are preparing for the coming of the Messiah, and have yet to walk into the room and realize that He is in our company.